Adam Erace heads to Max Brenner hoping to discover a chocolate lover’s paradise, unfortunately this nirvana  is only skin deep.

If I had kids, I’d take them to Max Brenner. (Nurse Jackie took her rugrats to the Union Square location in episode nine.) But I’m a grownup, darn it. My tastes are sophisticated, and I won’t be swayed by complimentary mirrors and cute, cool, adorably awesome chocolate-drinking apparatuses … No! I’m going to Naked or Golosa, where the chocolate caters to adults. Just as soon as someone wraps up an Alice glass for me to take home.

Max Brenner is Better for Kids [Philadelphia Weekly]
Max Brenner [Official Site]

Philadelphia has a rich history as a chocolate town and it continues to this day with the likes of Marcie Turney’s Marcie Blaine chocolates made at Verde on South 13th Street. Italian transplant Fabio Scarpelli’s Golosa is turning out Italian chocolates in Bella Vista. Former Le Bec-Fin pastry chef Antoine Amrani has his own chocolate factory in East Norriton. Even Max Brenner has come to town with his Chocolate by the Bald Man.

Chocolate City [Philadelphia Inquirer]

We here at the Foobooz World Headquarters think “succulent” is a great word. So we were excited to see the following subject line in our inbox this morning, “New Succulents at Verde Philadelphia.” We eagerly clicked with thoughts of chocolate delights dancing through our heads. So we were dissapointed that the succulents being discussed were plants not some food based juiciness.

But a quick spin of the mouse wheel and our spirits were buoyed by the following paragraph:

NEW from Marcie Blaine Artisinal Chocolates!

Fresh strawberry’s from Lancaster County are the inspiration for the newest addition to Marcie Blaine Artisinal Chocolates. White chocolate ganache enrobed in 64% dark chocolate completes this mouth watering combination that is a must try.

Succulent.

Verde Philadelphia [Official Site]

Golosa just got a new shipment of chocolates in from Italy’s “Best Artisanal Chocolatier,” Andrea Bianchini of Florence, Italy so they can’t help but host a chocolate tasting event. And to make it a little different, Golosa is pairing the chocolates with a complimentary beer or dark aged rum. The event is next Wednedsay, April 15th and runs from 6 to 10pm. Reservations are recommmended. 

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Beer expert Don Russell a.k.a. Joe Sixpack tackles chocolate, beer and lovemaking in his Daily News column today:

Nodding Head’s version, however, uses the real thing. Brewer Gordon Grubb dunked more than 25 pounds of famous French-made Valrhona chocolate into a seven-barrel batch to produce a bitter, roasty dark beer.

“This is entirely unscientific,” Grubb reported, “but based on my own observation, this stout will go over well with your girlfriend, and you are guaranteed to get laid.”

He’s not wrong. That would work better on me than a prix fixe dinner and a box of chocolates.

Joe Sixpack: Chocolate beer [philly.com]

As an add-on to the Metro column today. Here are the full menus for cheese, chocolate and other menu items at the Beneluxx Tasting Room.

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Our favorite beer lass checked out the chocolate, cheese and beer tasting at the South Philadelphia Tap Room last Saturday. And don’t feel too bad if you missed it. Looks like it’ll be a monthly affair.

If Willy Wonka, Emilio DiBruno and Garrett Oliver got together… [I'll have another stout]
South Philadelphia Tap Room [Official Site]

Keep your eyes peeled today and through next Sunday as DOVE Women will be around Philadelphia handing out samples of DOVE Chocolate.

Whether you like your chocolate smooth and milky or rich and dark, DOVE will have some samples and coupons for you. And if you happen to come across the DOVE caramels with chocolate and hazelnut don’t share them with anyone (well except us). They’re way too good!

Chocolate pick-me-up locations after the jump.

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